Playbooks

Stick

Shotgun·Tight·11
StickStick ConceptPass PlayFlatHitch
Play diagram for Stick from Shotgun Tight in Madden 27

Quick Reference

FormationShotgun

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Breakdown

Stick from Shotgun Tight (11 personnel) shows both outside receivers running deep gos up the sideline off the snap, clearing out the corners and taking the top off the coverage. The two inside receivers (slot and TE) run stick routes, sitting down quickly at five to six yards and turning to face the quarterback for a rhythm throw. This is a classic zone beater built to attack the flat and hook zones with the stick routes while the vertical releases stretch the deep defenders and open up throwing lanes underneath. Primary read progression starts with the two stick routes working middle to boundary, then works out to the verticals if a coverage bust or one-on-one shows up deep.

Defensive Reads

Check pre-snap safety alignment, two deep safeties suggest zone coverage that the stick routes will exploit underneath. Watch cornerback depth at the line, tight press alignment on the outside receivers signals man coverage and opens up the vertical routes for a big play. Post-snap, track linebacker depth and drop speed, shallow zone drops from the mike or will linebacker can clog the stick routes and force a checkdown or vertical shot. Beware of user controlled defenders sitting in the flat or hook zone since they can jump the stick route timing and bait a turnover. This concept struggles against disciplined zone defenses like Cover 3 sky with a hard flat player, since that defender can take away both stick routes and force a low percentage vertical throw into coverage.

Usage Tips

Pre-snap, identify if the defense is showing two-high or single-high safety look, since stick concepts thrive against zone shells with soft underneath coverage.

Hot route one of the vertical routes into a quick out or slant if you see man coverage with no help over the top, turning this into a quick man beater.

Use this play on third and short to medium situations where the stick routes can settle in front of linebackers for an easy conversion throw.

Combine Stick with Y Cross or Mesh Spot in the same set to keep defenses honest, since both plays share similar initial releases but attack different levels of the field.

Watch for user linebackers dropping into the stick routes underneath, and be ready to reset your eyes to the vertical routes if the picture gets muddy in a hurry.

Other Plays in Tight